[Elecraft] UK Re-seller

[Jim Lowman]

I don't know how it is in the UK or the rest of Europe, but local 
electronics
stores, much less those where amateur radio equipment is sold, have been
gone for many years.  They have been replaced by national retailers like 
HRO
and AES.

Back in the 50s and 60s, when I was growing up, we had a large, local
wholesale electronics store that would do business with hams and CBers
on a retail level.  That's where I bought my first ham equipment,
including receiver and transmitter, antenna, coax, and other accessories.

Of course, they are gone now.  I was surprised to learn recently that their
largest account was with General Motors.  So, when the Buick factory
and several supporting factories in town closed, I suppose they did, too.

In 1975, when we moved to southern California, a friend and I would
drive toward Los Angeles and visit as many as four stores where ham
gear was sold.  Today, pretty much there are two:  Ham Radio Outlet
and Jun's.  This, for the second-largest metropolitan area in the US.

Point of this long dissertation is - if you have a local dealer and want to
see it stay around, patronize it.  Too many times, guys would go in and
look over the equipment, then call every toll-free number that they
could find, in order to get the lowest price or escape the sales tax.

73 de Jim - AD6CW

On 5/30/2012 4:32 AM, David Christ wrote:
> This is considered bad form in the bicycle world and I assume it is
> the same in the Ham world as well.  It is unfair to the dealer who
> has invested money in having stock on hand to for you take advantage
> of his investment and then give him nothing in return.  At least buy
> something else from him even if small.
>
> If you want a local shop to be there when you need something at a
> moment's notice you need to spend money there at other times.  If it
> costs a little more, that is the price of keeping him in business.  I
> will admit that if the price difference is too great you are
> justified in taking your business elsewhere.
>
> Disclaimer: I was a shop owner once so this is a sore point.
>
> David K0LUM
>